diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
index c581e4b8156..7dbc2f18ca7 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
@@ -429,6 +429,9 @@ $.Widget.prototype = {
 	},
 
 	_hoverable: function( element ) {
+		if ( !element ) {
+			var element = this.element;
+		}
 		this.hoverable = this.hoverable.add( element );
 		this._on( element, {
 			mouseenter: function( event ) {
@@ -441,6 +444,9 @@ $.Widget.prototype = {
 	},
 
 	_focusable: function( element ) {
+		if ( !element ) {
+			var element = this.element;
+		}
 		this.focusable = this.focusable.add( element );
 		this._on( element, {
 			focusin: function( event ) {